Toy spinning rope

ABSTRACT

A HAND-MANIPULATED LASSO HAVING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL HANDLE AND A ROTATABLE SHAFT WITHIN THE HANDLE, AN ELONGATED PLASTIC-LIKE TUBULAR LAMINOUS MATERIAL HAVING ONE END THEREOF CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT AND THE OTHER END ELASTICALLY CONNECTED TO A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE SHAFT END TO PRODUCE A SINGULAR LOOP, AND AN ORBITAL TYPE OBJECT ATTACHED TO THE LOOP SO THAT THE ROTATION OF LOOP VIA THE MANIPULATION OF HANDLE GIVES AN ORBITING EFFECT TO THE OBJECT.

Nov. 2, 1971 M. slMPsoN ETA. 3,616,566

TOY SPINNING ROPE Filed Oct. 2l, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fm1/wijf @firs ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1971 M, slMPsoN ETAL ToY SPINNING ROPE mvENTons Mf/fz/ff/rf/mfaf/ BY fief/vri.; a. @Pw/.5

ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2l. 1969 United States Patent O Mice 3,616,566 TOY SPINNING ROPE Marguerite Simpson and Frances S. Grays, both of 137-51 S. Gate St., Springfield Gardens, NX. 11413 Filed Oct. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 868,031 Int. Cl. A63h 33/00 U.S. Cl. 46-51 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DHSCLGSURE A hand-manipulated lasso having a hollow cylindrical handle and a rotatable shaft within the handle, an elongated plastic-like tubular luminous material having one end thereof connected to the shaft and the other end elastically connected to a point intermediate the shaft end to produce a singular loop, and an orbital type object attached to the loop so that the rotation of loop via the manipulation of handle gives an orbiting effect to the object.

This invention relates to a toy article and in particular refers to a hand-manipulated demonstrable loop-lasso capable of producingy orbiting effects of various objects attached thereto, and also usable as a game of skill.

An object of the invention is to provide a toy-article in the form of a hand-manipulated loop-lasso which is simple and rugged in construction, easily demonstrated and disposed to be used in games of chance, where degrees of skill are shown.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handmanipulated loop which can be conveniently demonstrated to have various rotatable effects such as an orbiting satellite, a wheel, and etc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide av lasso which may be manipulated in various degrees of light so as to demonstrate different esthetic effects.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the pertinent specications and study of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective hand-manipulated rope in the form of a lasso according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the lasso handle and rotating internal shaft with rope connected thereto.

FIG. 3 shows the rotating shaft,

FIG. 4 shows the handle and rope with socket connector mating members connected thereto.

FIG. 5 shows handle and rope with their respective socket mating parts in operative engagement.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 7a show representative pole-pieces capable of being used in a game wherein the lasso is utilized.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show representative orbiting objects which can be used in conjunction with the lasso for demonstrable effects.

FIGS. 10-13 show how the loop-lasso may be demonstrated most effectively in different and varying positions of the said lasso.

Now describing the invention with respect to the various figures of the drawings, and using the same reference numbers for like or similar parts wherever feasible, there is shown in particular in FIG. 1 a loop-lasso comprising in general a control handle 1 and a rope 2 connected at one end to the handle by a socket-assembly 3, the ropes other end 4 being connected to a point intermediate the handle end by an elastic member 5 so as to substantially form a closed loop. The rope in particular can be of any flexible, elastic type quality such as cord, vinyl or any other like plastic material and so colored or configured as to create different color or light effects when exposed to different forms of light energy.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show handle and shaft assembly and parts and are comprised of an elongated hollow cylindrical han- 3,5%,566 Patented Nov. 2 1971 dle 6 having connected thereto at one end a ferrule-type bushing 7 with an extending inwardly flange 8 for receiving in locked engagement another ferrule type bushing 9 which is connected to one extremity of a hollow tubular rope 10. The interlocking combination of bushings 7 and 9 form a socket-type connection which can be connected and disconnected by applying a reasonable degree of force. The rope 1t? has also connected thereto at the said eX- tremity a rigid plastic or metal shaft 11 which is designed to fit snugly within the tubular rope a distance sufficient in depth to maintain a firm grip with the rope when operatively engaged with said rope to be detailed later.

The rope with connecting shaft is mounted to the handle 6 with the socket assembly, composed of bushing 9 on rope and bushing 7 on handle, operatively engaged so that the shaft is completely enclosed Within the handle and completely free to rotate therein. The rope and shaft to which it is firmly adhered are rotated as a unit with the shaft freely rotatable within the handle. Hence by holding the handle in a firm grip, the shaft is free to rotate therein and With respect thereto. The Shaft provides rigidity to the rope and permits easy manipulation thereof in a circular manner without any effort on the part of the user or manipulator which would otherwise not be the case if the rope did not have a handle and rotating shaft therein. The bushing 9 permanently fixed to rope rotates within bushing 7 permanently fixed to handle and is held therein by the inwardly projecting fiange 8 when both bushings are connected in a socketlike fashion and operatively engaged. The socket as shown can be of other similar-like construction, the object being to have the shaft and rope rotating as a single integrated unit with respect to the handle which remains firmly gripped and non-rotatable.

The foregoing construction of a loop-lasso permits the user to easily create and perform laso-type operations with a minimum of effort. For example, the lasso can be used in playing a game where skillful manipulation is required. FIGS. 6, 7 and 7a show, respectively, moon and cow-headed poles wherein the lasso or loop is twirled or manipulated along and about the respective poles in a fashion so as not to hit or otherwise knock over the poles. The use of the lasso in such a game requires skillful dexterity and timing, and affords considerable pleasure and fun to the participants.

Another use for the lasso-loop would be to give an illusion of orbiting objects of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In particular by attaching a space-ship replica of the type shown in FIG. 8 and a satellite of the type shown in FIG. 9, to the loop and thereafter twirling the lasso in the usual fashion, an orbiting effect will result. This effect becomes more pronounced and impressive when the rope and object are made luminescent in a relatively darkened background so as to create greater realism. This effect can be created from light created by a television set in a darkened room. There are many other combinations of objects and lighting effects Which can be created by the loop as conceived herein.

The rigidity produced by the shaft 11 as it is attached to the rope, permits the manipulation of the lasso in a fashion that assures the continuation of maintaining the loop configuration regardless of the different spacial orientations of the lasso as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and l2. Here, there are three different orientations: down in FIG. 10, side-arm in FIG. 11, and upwards in FIG. 12. In each of these different orientations the loop remains intact with no degree of skill on the part of the user necessary to maintain the loop configuration.

Although the invention as described herein shows a particular embodiment, it may be appreciated that other preferred embodiments in types of material, form and configuration may be substituted without detracting from the S true intent and purposes of the invention as embodied herein and particularly claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A ltoy article of the hand-manipulated loop-lasso type comprising in combination a hollow cylindrical handle, a rotatable shaft Within the handle and carried thereby, an elongated flexible tubular luminous rope having two ends one end thereof connected to the shaft and the other end elastically secured to a point on raid rope intermediate the shaft end to produce a singularloop, means attached to said handle and rope at the shaft end for connecting said rope and handle in operative engagement to permit rotation of shaft and rope relative to said handle and an orbital type object attached to said loop so that the rotation thereof via the manipulation of handle gives an orbiting effect to the object when the loop is rotated about the handle.

2. A toy article according to claim ll and wherein said handle and rope attaching means includes bushing-like snap-on force-fit ferrule members each disposed to become d operatively engaged and disengaged upon the application of exerting pressure thereto.

3. A toy article according to claim 1 and wherein said loop-lasso is further disposed to functionally operate and play with configured pole members in looped fashion.

4. A toy article according to claim ll and wherein said rope is plastic.

5. A toy article according to claim l and wherein said rope is vinyl.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,731 5/1936 Martin 46-51 2,044,240 6/1936 Daniels 46-51 3,260,014 7/1966 Krueger 46-47 3,509,659 5/1970 Kau 46-51 X ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner 

